Animal-trap.



N. LIBERATO.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION IILED AUG. 25, 1913- 1,124,043,, Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

F'IGJ FIGJB FIG 3 THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTOVLITHO \VASHIIIG row. a. c.

lll ll ljlhlll) SEFATEd PATENT NICOLA LIBERATO, F LUSH, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR OE ONE-SEVENTH TO HENRY L. IVJIEERHOIFFJ, OF InfWIlil,PENNSYLVANIA, ONE-SEVENTH TO ANTCNI DI GEE- SCENZQ, OF IEANOR,PENNSYLVANIA, AND ONE-SEVENTH TO LGUIS DELLA PENNA, GATE-SEVENTH TOFILEIJ'O MASTROCOLO, 0NE-SEVENTL-I TO JIOVACCHINO DI PRIN- ZIO, ANDONE-SEVENTH TO AGOSTINO MABCHISIO, ALL OF EILLTON, PENNSYL- VANIA.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

Application filed August 25, 1913.

To all whom 1' may concern Be it known that I, Nrcona LIBERATO, asubject of the King of Italy, residing at Lush, in the county oflVestmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Ani- .mal-Traps, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in animaltraps with special reference to the mechanism employed for automaticallyclosing the door which confines the animal caught, said mechanisminvolving means whereby the animal itself will be utilized to spring.the trap.

it further object to be attained is in pro riding a plurality ofcontiguous cells, all of which abut on a centrally disposed decoy orbaiting compartment, whereby a predetermined. number of animals may becaught by one setting of the trap, and each be con fined in a separatecell.

In the accompanying drawin which illustrates one embodiment of myinvention, Figure 1 is a plan view showing a plurality of assembledcontiguous cells separated and protected by a suitable grating andinvolving a centrally disposed compartment or cage. F 2 is a sideelevation, and Fig. 3 an end elevation: Fig. 4 is a fragmental view inplan formation partly broken away showing operating mechanism set readyto be released. Fig. 5 is a fragmental side elevation in cross sectionshowing position of the mechanism after being sprung and by dotted linesin its locked attitude, and Fig. 6 shows a fragment of the door carryinga trigger member.

Throughout the several views shown in the drawings the numeral 1designates the supporting skeleton frame work structure divided to forma plurality of individual and separated compartments or cells 2, thewalls and roof of which are here shown as being of agrating or barformation, but this feature can be modified to suit the specialrequirements of the trap. The rear of all the combined cells abutsagainst a centrally positioned compartment 3, which is entirelyseparated-from the said cells 2, and serves only in the capacity of adecoy or baiting feature, whereby the animals intended to beSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

Serial No. 786,520.

feature of my invention, involves a hinged platform or depressibleportion 5, positioned in and constituting part of the floor 6 of eachcell unit, excepting the decoy compartment, the area of which will bedetermined by actual practice and usage. Secured to this said member 5,preferably on its under surface, is a rigid bar 7 that eX- tendsunderneath the fioor of the cell and terminates in a receptive groove orslot 8 arranged in the door sill, said bar being provided adjacent tothe free end thereof with one or more notches 9. Secured to the underframe of each door, and designed to operate in the said groove 8, is atrigger 10 which lies on a horizontal plane with the said bar 7, whenthat member is in its raised position. This said trigger involves anengaging finger portion 11 and apertured knuckle 12. A tension springmember 13,

connected at one end to the apertured knuckle and at the opposite end toa convenient point underneath the floor, completes the elements enteringinto the con struction of my improved animal trap.

lVhen the trap is set the door of each cell is swung open to its limitof movement and the trigger finger 11 made to engage in the notch 9 ofthe bar 7, as shown in Fig. l, at which time the spring member 18 willbe drawn on a tension, the said rod 7 carrying the strain and preventingthe door from closing. The animal on entering the cell is obliged topass to the rear thereof before it can reach the bait confined in themiddle compartment, and in so doing it must step on the platform 5. Theweight of the animal will be sufficient to depress this member, which indropping also bears down the rod 7, and thereby breaks connection withthe trigger 10, the consequent result being that the released springtension will automatically close the door and confine the trappedanimal.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. Inan animal trap an inclosed cell or compartment having an admissionopening an outwardly swung door guarding said opening, a depressibletrap door or platform arranged in the floor of the cell, a trip rodconnected to said trap door and projecting underneath the floor to arecess formed in the door sill, said rod being provided with a notchadjacent to its outer free extremity, a trigger carried by the doorwhich engages in said notch to hold the door in open position, and atension spring member connected to the said trigger which automaticallypulls the door shut when the contact between said trigger and bar memberis broken.

2. In an animal trap, a plurality of contiguous separated and inclosedcells opening outward, their rear portions abutting on a centrallydisposed decoy or baiting space; an outwardly swinging door for eachcell; mechanism in each cell to be operated by the animal itself afterentering the cell for automatically closing the door, said mechanisminvolving a depressible portion of each cells flooring, a trip rodcarried by said depressible portion and projecting below the floor lineand entering a recess formed in the door sill, said rod being providedwith a notch adjacent to its outer free end; a trigger carried by thedoor adapted to engage in the notch portion of said trip rod when thedoor is open; and a tension spring member connected to said triggerwhich pulls the door shut when Contact be tween said trigger and barmember is released.

In testimony whereof, I my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

NICOLA LIBERATO. Witnesses:

GAETANO VENTURA, LUIGI OIATTL 4 Copies of this patent may be obtainedfor five-cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G."

